Integrating Systems Thinking and Design Thinking in Peacebuilding A Systemic Peace Design Framework for Conflict Transformation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

By Elie Pierre Kanda Mukuna

Peacebuilding interventions in complex conflict environments increasingly struggle to produce sustainable outcomes due to the multidimensional nature of contemporary conflicts. Traditional approaches often focus either on structural political reforms or community-based reconciliation initiatives without adequately linking these levels of analysis and practice. This article proposes an integrated framework combining systems thinking and design thinking to address complex conflict systems. Systems thinking provides analytical tools for understanding the structural drivers, feedback loops, and leverage points that sustain violence, while design thinking introduces participatory methodologies for co-creating context-specific peacebuilding interventions with affected communities.